Decibel Limits: Redmond vs Seattle
How do decibel limits rules compare between Redmond, WA and Seattle, WA?
Redmond and Seattle have similar restriction levels.
Redmond, WA
King County
Redmond decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 EDNA tiers: 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night for residential, 60 and 55 for commercial, 70 all hours for industrial. Enforced under RMC 6.32.
View full Redmond rules →Seattle, WA
King County
Unincorporated King County adopts WAC 173-60 decibel limits: 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime for Class A residential receiving property. Higher limits apply in commercial and industrial receiving zones.
View full Seattle rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Redmond | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Day | 55 dBA | - |
| Residential Night | 45 dBA | - |
| Industrial All Hours | 70 dBA to industrial | - |
| Meter | ANSI Type 1 or 2 | - |
| Class A Day | - | 55 dBA (7 AM-10 PM) |
| Class A Night | - | 45 dBA (10 PM-7 AM) |
| Class B Day | - | 60 dBA commercial |
| Class C | - | 70 dBA industrial |
| Measurement | - | Receiving property line |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Redmond FAQ
What decibel level is too loud in Redmond?
Any sustained sound above 55 dBA at a residential property line during the day or 45 dBA at night is a violation of RMC 6.32 and WAC 173-60.
Does Redmond allow brief loud noise?
Yes. WAC 173-60 allows 5 dB exceedances for 15 minutes, 10 dB for 5 minutes, and 15 dB for 1.5 minutes per hour.
Seattle FAQ
How loud is 55 dBA?
Roughly the sound of a typical conversation at 10 feet, or a quiet refrigerator. Normal speech is about 60 dBA, and highway traffic at 50 feet is about 70 dBA.
Can I get a King County deputy to measure decibels?
Rarely on a first complaint. Deputies typically use the plainly audible standard. Formal dBA measurements are done by Code Enforcement on repeat or commercial cases.
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